Sectional frame for refrigerators

ABSTRACT

A composite section for refrigerator frames is provided with two members, one of which is anchored in the mass of heat insulating material and the other is detachably connected to the firstmentioned member so as to leave between the two members a plurality of cavities or spaces in which cables, tubes and the like can be housed.

nited States Patent Inventor Lamberto Mazza Pordenone, Italy App]. No. 889,071

Filed Dec. 30, 1969 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 Assignee Industrie A. Zanussi S.p.A.

Pordenone, Italy Priority May8, 1969 Italy 8806 13/69 SECTIONAL FRAME FOR REFRIGERATORS 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 52/220, 49/503, 52/309, 52/623 1111.0 E06b 3/00 Field ofSearch 52/624, 220, 620, 627, 459, 300, 619, 615, 588, 309, 20s, 718; 49/502, 503

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,414,986 l/1947 Tinnerman 52/718 2,673,377 3/1954 Garigler 49/503 2,876,873 3/1959 Benham 49/503 3,122,796 3/1964 Woolley 49/503 3,281,172 10/1966 Kuehl 52/627 3,525,190 8/1970 Saunders 52/512 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Schwartz Att0rney1-Iolman and Stern ABSTRACT: A composite section for refrigerator frames is provided with two members, one of which is anchored in the mass of heat insulating material and the other is detachably connected to the first-mentioned member so as to leave between the two members a plurality of cavities or spaces in which cables, tubes and the like can be housed.

SECTIONAL FRAME FOR REFRIGERATORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to composite grooved section for refrigerator frames.

In modern refrigerators, thermal insulation is formed by means of a layer of polyurethane foam injected directly and caused to expand in the interspace defined between the refrigerator housing and the internal cell.

However, this technique gives rise to a series of problems related to the arrangement of apparatus and accessories which must be located in the refrigerator and connected together, or to the outside. In particular, it is necessary to provide passages for the electric cables which cannot be embedded in the polyurethane foam for obvious safety reasons as well as for easy substitution. Further, in the case of refrigerators provided with two compartments subjected to different temperatures, it is also necessary to provide a passage for the tube for the return of refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the compressor. It is further necessary to be able to connect push hinges and locks to the refrigerator door. This latter in turn is usually provided with a magnetic seal under which formations of ice may develop. Consequently, it must be possible to connect flexible electrical resistances to the seal in order to defrost it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problems and disadvantages briefly mentioned above are completely solved by the section of the invention which comprises two members which can be coupled by in-fitting in a detachable manner, with a first of said members being anchored by way of hooklike parts into the mass of expanded polyurethane and the second of said members being secured to the first by flexible snap-in elements, the union of said two members providing a plurality of cavities inside the composite section, forming seats for electric cables, tubes and the like.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description which follows of a preferred embodiment by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a detailed transversal sectional view of the composite section according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is another view analogous with FIG. 1 of the section according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference firstly to FIG. 1, the composite grooved section of the present invention comprises two members and 11, the first (10), of which separates the cell from the external housing and the second (11) of which engages with the part 10, defining and enclosing therewith the various cavities provided as seats and for the passage of various refrigerator components.

The member 10 is anchored into a mass of expanded polyurethane 12 by means of two angle parts 13, while the member 11 is secured to the member 10 by means of a flexible molding l4 defining a male connector which is snap inserted into a seat 15 formed in the member 10 defining a female connector and which extends over the whole of the front perimeter of the housing. The seat 15 is shaped so as to be able to receive a metallic reinforcement 16 for securing a door catch 17 of the door lock. Further, the seat 15 allows the insertion of an electrical heating resistance 18 (in the manner shown in FIG. 2) for defrosting a magnetic seal 19 which is arranged inside a suitable slot formed in the member 11.

A tube 22 for the return of refrigerant fluid from the evaporator to the compressor may also be caused to pass through the member 10 such that the tube is protected and covered by the member I 1.

Considering FIG. 2 in particular, in which corresponding parts have the same reference numerals as FIG. 1, an embodiment IS shown in which a chamber 20 serves as a housing for a pushbutton switch 21. The chamber 20 in FIG. 1 serves as the housing for the catch 17 of the lock.

It is clear from the preceding description that application of the composite section according to the invention results in easy maintenance and/or substitution of components housed in the cavities defined by the two members 10 and l 1.

What we claim is:

1. In a refrigerator frame having an internal cell and an external housing with a mass of polyurethane foam in the space between the cell and housing, a composite section therefor, including a first member having at least two spaced-parallel walls with one end of each wall being bent at substantially right angles to the wall to constitute means for anchoring the first member in the polyurethane, said member having another wall extending transversely with respect to and joined with said two spaced-parallel walls in spaced relationship to said bent ends and abutting the polyurethane mass, one further wall parallel to said transversely extending wall joined to the other ends of said two spaced-parallel walls providing internal cavities within the first member, a second member cooperable with the first member, said second member having a wall parallel to said one further wall of the first member and a second wall joined therewith and extending at right angles thereto for engaging one end of said another wall of the first member, said parallel wall of the second member having a flexible male connector for insertion into a seat provided in said one further wall of the first member to provide a detachable connection between the first and second members, with said parallel wall and second wall of the second member cooperating in the connected condition, with said one further wall, the two spaced-parallel walls and said another wall of the first member to close the internal cavities to define seats for receiving electric cables, tubes and the like. 

1. In a refrigerator frame having an internal cell and an external housing with a mass of polyurethane foam in the space between the cell and housing, a composite section therefor, including a first member having at least two spaced-parallel walls with one end of each wall being bent at substantially right angles to the wall to constitute means for anchoring the first member in the polyurethane, said member having another wall extending transversely with respect to and joined with said two spaced-parallel walls in spaced relationship to said bent ends and abutting the polyurethane mass, one further wall parallel to said transversely extending wall joined to the other ends of said two spaced-parallel walls providing internal cavities within the first member, a second member cooperable with the first member, said second member having a wall parallel to said one further wall of the first member and a second wall joined therewith and extending at right angles thereto for engaging one end of said another wall of the first member, said parallel wall of the second member having a flexible male connector for insertion into a seat provided in said one further wall of the first member to provide a detachable connection between the first and second members, with said parallel wall and second wall of the second member cooperating in the connected condition, with said one further wall, the two spaced-parallel walls and said another wall of the first member to close the internal cavities to define seats for receiving electric cables, tubes and the like. 